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| Turkish-backed rebels in Syria make major gains against Islamic State | Turkish-backed rebels in Syria make major gains against Islamic State |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT — Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria have been driving Islamic State militants out of vast areas along the frontier with neighboring Turkey, seizing a key border town from the extremist group in their latest gains. | BEIRUT — Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria have been driving Islamic State militants out of vast areas along the frontier with neighboring Turkey, seizing a key border town from the extremist group in their latest gains. |
| The capture overnight Thursday of Rai, about 40 miles northeast of Aleppo, by groups affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army deprives the Islamic State of one of its last border crossings from Turkey into Syria. Rai had been a key conduit for the group to funnel fighters and weapons. | The capture overnight Thursday of Rai, about 40 miles northeast of Aleppo, by groups affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army deprives the Islamic State of one of its last border crossings from Turkey into Syria. Rai had been a key conduit for the group to funnel fighters and weapons. |
| The takeover — confirmed by the rebel groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring organization — represents a major setback for the Islamic State, which depends heavily on smuggling pathways through Turkey. | The takeover — confirmed by the rebel groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring organization — represents a major setback for the Islamic State, which depends heavily on smuggling pathways through Turkey. |
| At the same time, the militant group’s territory in Syria and Iraq has been shrinking substantially because of advances by U.S.-backed forces and pro-government fighters in Syria. Among the important gains was the recapture last week of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria by forces — including Russian warplanes — allied with President Bashar al-Assad’s government. | At the same time, the militant group’s territory in Syria and Iraq has been shrinking substantially because of advances by U.S.-backed forces and pro-government fighters in Syria. Among the important gains was the recapture last week of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria by forces — including Russian warplanes — allied with President Bashar al-Assad’s government. |
| [Islamic State knocked back in Syria and Iraq] | [Islamic State knocked back in Syria and Iraq] |
| “The rebels liberated al-Rai completely yesterday evening after intense clashes with ISIS,” said Col. Haytham Afisi, a commander of the 51st Brigade, a rebel outfit involved in the operation. The Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot, is also known as ISIS, ISIL and, in Arabic, Daesh. | “The rebels liberated al-Rai completely yesterday evening after intense clashes with ISIS,” said Col. Haytham Afisi, a commander of the 51st Brigade, a rebel outfit involved in the operation. The Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot, is also known as ISIS, ISIL and, in Arabic, Daesh. |
| During their assault on the town, he said, the rebel forces received support from Turkish artillery and from airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition that is fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. | During their assault on the town, he said, the rebel forces received support from Turkish artillery and from airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition that is fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. |
| The rebel advances also appear to be a success for Turkish policy in Syria. U.S. officials hope Turkey will focus more on combating the militants along a border that, for much of the conflict, has been a porous gateway for militant Islamists. | The rebel advances also appear to be a success for Turkish policy in Syria. U.S. officials hope Turkey will focus more on combating the militants along a border that, for much of the conflict, has been a porous gateway for militant Islamists. |
| Turkey, a fierce opponent of Assad, has provided the rebels with weapons and logistics as they have made their way eastward from Azaz, another border town about 30 miles north of Aleppo. The rebel fighters have reclaimed more than a dozen villages in the area. | Turkey, a fierce opponent of Assad, has provided the rebels with weapons and logistics as they have made their way eastward from Azaz, another border town about 30 miles north of Aleppo. The rebel fighters have reclaimed more than a dozen villages in the area. |
| Video footage posted on social media purports to show the rebels storming into Rai on trucks, hoisting assault weapons. Large explosions resulting from apparent air raids by the U.S.-led coalition reverberate in the background. | Video footage posted on social media purports to show the rebels storming into Rai on trucks, hoisting assault weapons. Large explosions resulting from apparent air raids by the U.S.-led coalition reverberate in the background. |
| In one video, a rebel fighter stands in front of a group of fatigue-clad militants, shouting that the “Free Syrian army has liberated al-Rai.” The group then chants, “God is great!” | In one video, a rebel fighter stands in front of a group of fatigue-clad militants, shouting that the “Free Syrian army has liberated al-Rai.” The group then chants, “God is great!” |
| Turkey also seeks to use the rebels to blunt a separate push by Kurdish militants in Syria, who have U.S. support. Turkey, however, claims that the Kurds have strong links with separatists Kurds in Turkey and has called for Washington to cut ties with the Syrian Kurds. | Turkey also seeks to use the rebels to blunt a separate push by Kurdish militants in Syria, who have U.S. support. Turkey, however, claims that the Kurds have strong links with separatists Kurds in Turkey and has called for Washington to cut ties with the Syrian Kurds. |
| With rebels in control of Rai’s border crossing, they have carved out more breathing room in Syria’s northwest and appear poised to use the crossing to bring reinforcements to opposition-held areas in nearby Aleppo. | With rebels in control of Rai’s border crossing, they have carved out more breathing room in Syria’s northwest and appear poised to use the crossing to bring reinforcements to opposition-held areas in nearby Aleppo. |
| In February, a Syrian government assault, backed by Russian airstrikes and militiamen from Iran and Lebanon, dealt heavy blows to rebel fighters in the countryside north of Aleppo. | In February, a Syrian government assault, backed by Russian airstrikes and militiamen from Iran and Lebanon, dealt heavy blows to rebel fighters in the countryside north of Aleppo. |
| Those assaults in turn threatened to vanquish rebels in their urban stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo, a scenario that could prove fatal to the five-year rebellion. | Those assaults in turn threatened to vanquish rebels in their urban stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo, a scenario that could prove fatal to the five-year rebellion. |
| A partial cease-fire backed by Russia and the United States has since led to a substantial reduction in hostilities, despite violations alleged by both sides. The agreement does not stop attacks against the Islamic State. | A partial cease-fire backed by Russia and the United States has since led to a substantial reduction in hostilities, despite violations alleged by both sides. The agreement does not stop attacks against the Islamic State. |
| “There is conversation with the Turkish military and government to talk about opportunities to intensify support to those groups and to push Daesh east from the current line,” said the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, the Reuters news agency reported. | “There is conversation with the Turkish military and government to talk about opportunities to intensify support to those groups and to push Daesh east from the current line,” said the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, the Reuters news agency reported. |
| In Iraq, meanwhile, forces moved into the center of Hit, the military said. Hit is an important foothold that would put troops closer to the Islamic State’s main base in Iraq: the northern city of Mosul. | |
| A statement said Iraqi military held 70 percent of the town. “Our troops now are clearing the area of bombs and any enemies who are still hiding,” said Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the counter-terrorism forces leading the offensive. | |
| Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Liz Sly in Baghdad contributed to this report. |